5 Best Butane Soldering Iron 2019 ( Expert Reviews )

A butane soldering iron is one of the most essential tools to have in your toolbox. The soldering iron can serve many purposes, including cutting wires, binding materials, and creation of unique artistic pieces besides soldering. The fact that a butane soldering iron is lightweight and can fit into a small pocket makes it an ideal tool to have around even when traveling.

So how do you determine the ideal soldering iron? Which factors should you use to make the right choice and why? In this post, we explore the different types of soldering irons, their features, and the reasons why you should choose one over the other.

1. Dremel 2000-01 Versa Tip Precision Butane Soldering Torch

The Dremel 2000-01 Versa Tip is one of the tools best butane soldering irons on the market. This pocket-sized tool comes in a full kit, with 14 accessories attached to it. The accessories include soldering hot tips, soldering hot cutting knives and wood burning area among others. Moreover, it comes with an integrated ignition trigger for easy startup. This is more efficient as compared to other brands that may require an independent ignition tool.

The unit also comes with a temperature control button to ensure that you set your tip at the required temperature easily. The Dremel 2000-01 Versa is ideal for those working on extended projects as it offers an option for flame lock-on.

This butane soldering iron is made from premium quality materials for a long lifespan. It can hit temperatures of 1022 - 2192 degree Fahrenheit. The diverse shaped tips are helpful in wood and iron crafting. This tool can be used to work on projects with diverse precision requirements.

Advantages

Can heat up to 2192 degrees Fahrenheit

Comes with 14 accessories

Built to last

Temperature control feature ensures than no gas is lost

Disadvantages

Valve may leak

2. POWER PROBE Butane Soldering Kit (PPSK)

The POWER PROBE butane soldering iron comes in a fully assembled kit, designed with the aim of providing holistic services for technicians and individual users. This kit offers plenty of options with tools for automotive diagnosis, wood artworks, soldering and metal works.

Moreover, it features an adjustable flame for enhanced precision.

The POWER PROBE soldering iron is black in color, and has a comfortable rubber grip for easy handling. This tool offers a maximum temperature of 930 ° F, which is ideal for melting and soldering. The power probe soldering iron tool offers control over the flame length, with options ranging from 1.25'' to 5''. Using butane as fuel, the soldering iron is efficient and uses electronic ignition for easy startup. The full kit is purchased in an organized toolbox with plenty of other accessories, including diverse tips and attachments.

Advantages

Relatively easy to use

Multiple accessories

Can heat up to 930 F

Flame control feature

Disadvantages

Doesn’t have a stand

3. Weller P2C Butane Soldering Iron

The Weller P2C soldering iron is a lightweight pocket fitting soldering tool. This soldering iron stands out due to its ESD safe protective components. The toolbox casing is designed to offer top security with a lock system. The soldering iron itself boasts of fast heating— providing sufficient soldering heat in just 40 seconds. The Weller P2C soldering iron is cordless and small in size which makes it ideal to fit in a small pocket.

This tool also comes with several accessories including 7 heating tips. You can use the different tips for soldering, artistic crafting, and cutting among other uses. The Weller butane soldering iron is made in the USA, which stands as an assurance of quality. However, you must compare with similar products before purchasing. This tool can hit temperatures of 950 degrees Fahrenheit in an instant.

Advantages

Has ESD safe protective components

Fast heating

Can heat up to 950 F

Cordless

Disadvantages

The Weller P2KC butane soldering iron is a professional cordless tool that performs various tasks, including soldering, crafting, and cutting. This cordless, lightweight unit is ideal for persons who love traveling like myself. It can fit in my pocket conveniently without feeling heavy. As a safety measure, the unit uses ESD safe to protect all the sensitive components. Thanks to the hot air tool, the Weller P2KC can perform intense activities, including metal burning and wood crafting.

Moreover, it heats up very fast, reaching maximum temperature in just 40 seconds. For those working on extended projects, you may be pleased to know that this butane soldering tool has a gas capacity that can last for a whole, working hour. Even if the gas runs out, you can easily refill in just 20 seconds and continue with your work.

To ensure the safety and security, the unit comes fitted with an auto switch feature. Moreover, It can hit the temperatures of 850 degrees, and can support self-ignition and temperature control, for easy use.

Advantages

Extremely lightweight

Can heat up to 850 degrees

Fast refill

Huge gas capacity

Cordless

Fuel efficient

Disadvantages

The kit is relatively hard to understand

May fail to ignite

5. Portasol 010589330 Super Pro 125-Watt Heat Tool Kit with 7 Tips

​The Portasol butane soldering iron is sold with a full kit, including a user manual, and a bunch of accessories. The accessories include 7 tips, 3 of which are soldering tips. The soldering iron also comes with 1 hot air tip which is perfect for heat shrinking. The other important tips include the deflector tip and the hot knife tip, which is very crucial when it comes to cutting items and crafting wood.

This butane soldering iron boasts of a very fast refill time of just 10 seconds. The Portasol comes with a temperature control button which allows you to adjust the temperature through various ranges. The Portasol butane soldering iron can reach temperatures of 580 degrees Celsius in just 40 seconds. Thanks to the safety cut off switch, this soldering iron is good for use at home.

Advantages

Fast refill

Efficient temperature control

Can heat upto 580 degrees

Has a safety cutoff switch

Disadvantages

It may fail to stay lit even after refill

Consumes more butane than expected

What To Look For When Purchasing Butane Soldering Iron

Before you go shopping for a butane soldering iron, it is important to consider the features you need, your intended use and outcome. It is therefore paramount to examine the available options in order to buy a soldering iron that perfectly meets your needs. Here are some of the basic factors to consider before purchasing a butane soldering iron.

The Minimum and Maximum Temperature

Although most butane soldering irons heat up to a considerable temperature, it is still paramount to check the minimum and maximum temperature. Some soldering irons may only reach temperatures of 900-degree Fahrenheit while others may go well above 2000 degrees. It is your duty to know the purpose for which you intend to use your unit, and whether the indicated maximum temperature is ideal for you.

The Number of Tips and The Purposes They Serve

Some butane soldering irons only come with a single soldering tip. When purchasing a soldering iron, you need to look for diversity. Most of the butane soldering iron on this list have at least 3 different tips that serve different purposes. It is important to look at the number of tips offered and the purpose each tip serves. Even if you are a professional and only need a specific tip for your work, it is still advisable to have other divers tips in your locker. You may be required to use your butane soldering iron at home or in other circumstances apart from your work.

Does The Soldering Iron Have An Option For Hot Air?

Although most butane soldering irons have an option for air, it is not always a guarantee. Check to see if the soldering iron you want to purchase offers an option for hot air. The easiest way to determine is by looking for a hot air soldering tip. If the accessories do not include a hot air tip, chances are you will not be using hot air on your butane soldering iron.

Consider The Range Of The Butane Soldering Iron When In Operation

The time taken for the butane soldering iron to run out of gas is an important factor to keep in mind. If you will be working on a long project, you should purchase a soldering iron that offers convenient time. The range for soldering irons varies, starting from as low as 10 minutes while others can range up to 2 hours. It is your duty to do research and determine which soldering iron is ideal for your kind of work. If you intend to use your soldering iron once in a while at home, there is no need to invest in a long-range soldering iron.

The Efficiency Of The Soldering Iron

Efficiency entails the entire performance of the tool or full kit. If you are purchasing the soldering iron for professional use, you need to buy a tool that is reliable. Look for factors such as the flame length and the heat up time. Although most soldering irons heat up very fast, it is not sufficient to wait for more than a minute for a soldering iron to heat up. Purchase a soldering iron that heats up in a few seconds.

Other factors include the safety of the kit. A good soldering iron should have a safety cap and temperature control knob. These features ensure that the tip is either safely covered when not in use or the temperatures can easily be adjusted. You should also consider the durability of the product, the reputation of the manufacturer, and the price among other factors. Before you purchase any butane soldering iron, read reviews, and confirm the product features. The opinion of other users may help you make the right choice.

How to Refill Butane Soldering Iron

Most butane soldering irons can last up to an hour on one refill nonstop. When the butane runs out, the refill process is easy and can be accomplished in 10 to 20 seconds. To refill your soldering iron follow these simple steps:

Make sure you are in a well-ventilated room with no fire or an ignition source around. Butane is highly flammable and can cause a big fire if you happen to refill your soldering iron next to a fire source.

Turn your soldering iron up, with the tip facing down on a stable surface, preferably a wooden table.

Locate the fill valve on the end of the soldering iron, usually at the center of the bottom side.

Holding the soldering iron in the table, press the nozzle of the fill can into the valve and hold for about 10 seconds. Most butane soldering irons can be refilled within 10 to 20 seconds. If you are not sure about the time frame for your iron, just press and hold the fill can on the valve until you see some butane coming out.

After refilling, you can feel the iron getting colder. Let it settle for about a minute before you start using again.

Refilling is very simple but must be done in a cautious manner. Never smoke cigarettes or refill your soldering iron where there is a direct source of the fire.

Video Tutorial: How to Use Butane Gas Soldering Iron

Conclusion: So what is the best pick?

The choice of a butane soldering iron entirely depends on your needs, and the intended use. You should therefore determine features that are the most relevant according to your field of work. Do some research prior to purchasing, compare brands, look at each kit, and assess the accessories before you purchase.

After a long analysis, our team settled on Dremel 2000-01 Versa Tip Precision Butane Soldering Torch. The unit comes with 14 accessories, and can produce heat of up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This make it ideal for both small and huge tasks that require high precision and maximum heating.